Not a happy set of affairs for sure. More reflective of the ageing original Labour cohort than anything. Beaumont was the Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means (the second Deputy Speaker). While presiding over a debate in the House on 21 September 1948 Beaumont was taken seriously ill and he was forced to resign as Deputy Speaker; he died in a London hospital just over two months later. He was 65. Adams died aged 64. House resigned due to ill healh. He died 8 February 1949 aged 56. Belcher was appoi...

My round-up of political developments, as usual a preemptive retrospective that covers the whole year for ease of reference and for working into storylines later. By-Elections A by-election for the constituency of Batley and Morley was held on 17 February, caused by the death of the incumbent Labour MP Hubert Beaumont. The result was a hold for the Labour Party, with their candidate Alfred Broughton who beat the Conservative candidate A.M. Ramsden. A by-election for the constituency of Hammersmi...

The Old Bailey, London, 10:18am, Friday 21 January The bespectacled vicar was sworn in, hardly a necessary precaution for a man in his line of work. "You are the Reverend Charles Claridge?" asked Charles Ludicott-Peakes QC, the prosecuting counsel. "Yes Sir, I am." "And you run the Withington Shelter for the Homeless in your parish in Withington, Manchester?" Peakes glanced up from his notes. "I am indeed." "Reverend , could you please explain to the court what your work involves at the Shelter?...

26 January Manufacture Belge de Lampes Electriques, famous for its Mazda brand lightbulbs, Adzam brand electron tubes and fluorescent tubes has branched out from lighting products and has begun manufacturing other electronic components for the growing telecommunications market. These new products are the result of work carried out in the company’s research lab, which opened in 1945. 1 February Astronomer Jean Meeus asserts that the orbits of all the planets of the Solar System are within the sam...

20 January The first six T-6M41 'Nahuel’ (Tiger) heavy tanks have arrived at the Arsenal Esteban de Luca for refitting. During the year the entire fleet of 48 Nahuel tanks will be refitted with a new 520hp V-12 diesel engine developed by HAFDASA and new radio sets. 22 January The Army has issued its 1949 TOE for a standard infantry division. The only major change is that the Reconnaissance Battalion will lose one Motorised Reconnaissance Company but the other will be issued with nine CA-6M45 Arm...

In 1944 the RAAF began looking at a long-range reconnaissance aircraft suitable for tactical as well as strategic roles. The AA-51 Mustang III long-range fighter appeared a ready-made platform and in March 1945 a production Mustang III was converted to reconnaissance configuration. The main change was a vertical and an oblique F.24 camera in the rear fuselage replacing the fighter's jumpseat (structural provision had already been made). Two wing-mounted machine guns were retained for self-defenc...

25 January Kapitein-luitenant ter Zee Phillip Buis stood in the office of the Chief of Staff of the Far East Fleet and was handed his next assignment. "Congratulations Kapitein, you have earned this posting. I'm sorry your illness forced a break in your sea career but you will do well in your new post. You are to replace Kapitein-luitenant Lacomblé as our naval attache to the Philippines." The Admiral shook his hand and thrust the envelope into his hand. "We will be sorry to loose you from the 2...

Wolverine had a job to do. Euryalus, Petard and Porcupine are just on a booze cruise. They could have visited Danzig but the Admiralty were weary of German sensitivities and limited their flag showing cruise. Saying that, the crews are listening on hydrohpones so don't think they aren't prepared.

I've decided to ditch the XP-67 clone, the aerodynamics were not amazing OTL, especially around the stall and I doubt Australian Aviation could easily fix that even with sim 'hand waving'. Also, the RAAF has stacks of fighters. I've been tinkering with a replacement multi-role bomber to replace the Buckingham, Wombat and Dragonfly. It retains the Miles M.39 canard layout used on the AA-6 Dragonfly but beefed up all round and with turboprop power. This looks feasible but a once over by other eyes...

Design work on the DHA-3 began in 1943 after DHA identified a need to replace the de Havilland Dragon biplane then in widespread use in Australia. Although the British parent company's Dove was being produced at the same time, DHA saw that the Dove was not entirely suitable for Australian conditions. Using the Dove as a starting point, DHA designed an aircraft with three four-cylinder Gipsy Major engines instead of the Dove's two Gipsy Queen six-cylinder engines and a fixed tailwheel undercarri...

de Havilland DH.84 Dragon 87 were licence-built during 1935-38 for the RAAF for the transport and training roles. The majority were fitted for navigation and wireless operator training. In addition 65 were built up until 1940 for civil operators, including Qantas, Trans-Australian Airlines and the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Crew: one, pilot Capacity: 6–10 passengers or an instructor and three pupils Length: 34 ft 6 in (10.52 m) Wingspan: 47 ft 4 in (14.43 m) Height: 10 ft 1 in (3.07 m) Wing ar...